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Union Elementary students learn art of recycling
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The Green Team award winners in each grade celebrated their win near their recycling projects. Fourth-grader Sarah Bury won a first-place prize with a pencil holder fashioned from phone books; second-grader made a Statue of Liberty from newspapers and styrofoam; first-grader Giana McAleer made a wire and paper vase with flowers; kindergartner Lara Munford made a recycled paper flower; lastly, third-grader Mia DiCioccio (right) fashioned a rocket ship out of plastic cups and tinfoil.
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Neighbors | Sarah Foor .The students of Union Elementary were asked to create artwork out of recyclable material that displayed a patriotic or Valentine's Day theme. Union student Abbegale Altmor used aluminum cans in her display and shared a positive message about recycling on her poster board.
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The "Twice-Loved Treats" awards had a first-place winner in each grade. Second grade winner Jonathan Sarraino showed off his cool first place prize, a backpack fashioned from used Capri-Sun drink packets.
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Green Team representative Peg Flynn (right) visited Union to celebrate with the talented and imaginitative students involved in the recycling project, including third grade champion Mia DiCioccio (left).
By SARAH FOOR
Crushed pop cans, old newspapers, phone books and paper towel rolls aren’t usually considered objects of art. Under the guidance of Green Team representative Peg Flynn, however, the students at Union Elementary learned to look at recyclable objects in a different light.
Flynn asked the students to create a sculpture or art piece with a Valentine’s or patriotic theme, created completely out of recycled objects of their choice. On Feb. 17, Flynn visited the school to thank the students for their involvement in the project and give out first, second, third, and honorable mention prizes to contributing students in every grade.
“Your involvement in the Green Team program has been phenomenal,” principal Carmella Smallhoover told the contributors at the start of the assembly. “The artwork is beautiful and your passion for protecting the earth and recycling really came through in your art pieces.”
Flynn gave the winning students prizes made of recycled goods, including bookbags, lunch bags and pencil holders, all fashioned from reclaimed Capri Sun containers.
After the assembly, the first-place winners shared some of the lessons they learned during the project.
Second-grader Jonathan Sarraino, who created a Statue of Liberty from paper towel rolls and newspapers, said he learned much about the interesting details of the real statue.
Sarah Bury, who took the fourth-grade top prize, said the project changed her perspective.
“I look at everything differently now. I think about how so many things can be creatively recycled.”
Kindergarten champion Lara Munford saw the big picture.
“Recycling takes hard work, but it’s worth it. It’s important for the environment.”
“I just wanted the kids to learn to not waste and value what they have,” said Flynn. “Hearing about how the kids have learned so much more is a wonderful bonus.”